Aspirant obtains injunction against UDF primaries

Primary elections in Mangochi-Mkungulu constituency for the aspiring parliamentarians of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) failed to take place on Friday as scheduled after one of the contesting candidates Aisha Mambo-Adams obtained an injunction restraining the party from holding the primaries.

Adams, a former top-notch presenter for the country’s only Islamic radio station, Radio Islam, who was popularity known as Achakongwe by her admirers, is disputing the list of names of voters in the elections which she claims has been messed up alleging that the deputy constituency governor for the area deleted original names of several area committee members.

According to the court document which Nyasa Times possesses, the interlocutory injunction is restraining the defendants either by themselves, their agents or servants or howsoever otherwise from holding primary elections in Mangochi-Mkungulu constituency.

Aisha Mambo-Adam

It also restrains using a list of members of area committees “that was prepared by the 1st and 4th defendants which list is disputed by the plaintiff in the primary election that may be held in future until the determination of this matter or a further order of the court.”

The document has warned that if the order is disobeyed or neglected those responsible shall be answerable on contempt of court.

When contacted, Adams refused to shed light on the matter saying doing so is tantamount to contempt of court.

“My dear brother I don’t comment on matters which are in court and we don’t discuss internal issues of our beloved party through the media,” Adams told Nyasa Times.

She however expressed concern over some UDF officials for failing to comply with the dictates of the party’s constitution.

“There are few greedy party officials who wish to kill the party through dubious actions. I wish the officials would level the playing ground so that people should choose a candidate of their choice,” she said.

She added: “There is no way I can be intimidated, I am UDF, I will remain loyal to UDF and support Agenda for Change which is being spearheaded by party’s torchbearer Right Honorable Atupele Muluzi,” Adam said.

This is the second time for the primaries in the area to fail to take place. Last Sunday UDF failed to hold the elections after contenders failed to agree on names of legible voters instead the primaries were rescheduled to Friday.

The development if left unsorted out, is seen as another blow to 50-50 campaign as more women in various parties like the ruling People’s Party and Democratic Progressive Party have failed to make it because of what women activists says men’s tendencies of tramping upon women. .